Patients on hospital trolleys are a direct result of the Government's policies and so, too, is the homelessness crisis. Since the Labour Party conference in February, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, has been promising the introduction of rent certainty. He said then what we are looking at is a process whereby people have some certainty as regards rent into the future while housing supply is being dealt with. The Minister said this was his number one priority and he said "I'm committing here, that I am intent on entering the market to change this; it has to be done." Now the Taoiseach disagrees. He has said: "It is clear that interference in the market, to its detriment, is not something we should do. While people are calling for what they call clarity on rent certainty, if we interfere in the wrong way, we will make matters worse". It is little wonder that there is chaos in the Taoiseach's Cabinet. The Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, has referred to his Fine Gael colleagues as anonymous cowards because they briefed against the rent certainty proposal, but the chaos in the Cabinet is at nothing compared to the instability and the chaos inflicted by the Taoiseach on families who cannot afford to pay rents. Yesterday when I raised this issue the Taoiseach said the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would this week conclude discussions on proposals to deal with the housing crisis. Could the Taoiseach confirm for the Dáil today, and for those citizens who are suffering directly as a result of his Government's policies, that the Government will introduce rent certainty? Will he tell us that today and, if not, will he tell us why not?

I have said repeatedly to the Deputy that the Government is not going to do anything that would make the situation worse.

In respect of the construction sector, which collapsed completely under the previous Administration, we have come from a very low base to resurrect it, and that applies across a number of different areas.

How many houses did the Government arrange to be built last year?

There are those who are rough sleepers in this city. I listened to a very effective and very efficient official this morning speaking about what is happening in this city and the efforts that have been made, which are proving to be very successful, to deal with that particular problem even though the population of those who are rough sleepers has changed over the past period. There is the progress has been made clearly with more than 700 families now being put into what were voided units, or units that had to be reconstructed, renovated and made habitable. We have had the changes in the housing assistance programme, which provides a degree of certainty and a further option for those tenants who are under pressure from landlords. We have the figure of €4 billion on the table for the period between now and 2020, objectives and targets have been set for every local authority, and chief executives have been called together by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and told to get on with their jobs, which is to provide these houses for which the taxpayer is providing money. There are the other issues in respect of the private housing sector. Clearly, with every new facility that comes into the country with direct investment or expansion of employment, there is a need for further accommodation, and this is stalled effectively because of the situation that applied either because of a shortage of access to equity, the planning situation or the building regulations. These are all matters that are the source of discussion between the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Finance.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and his officials have done an extraordinary amount of work in the areas that I have mentioned. I hope the discussions taking place between the two Ministers can conclude this week with an agreement on effective responses for the short term, as well as for the medium to long term, which will ensure the viability of housing supply. This is the critical fault in all of this. If one does not have the supply of houses, one has extra pressure on existing accommodation units.

I referred yesterday to the decision to provide modular housing units. The first tenders for those are now being put in place. A small number, over 20, will be provided by Christmas. It is a challenging situation. I hope the discussions taking place will conclude this week, so we can move on and deal with the issues that will allow for accommodation to be provided for individuals and families with children and give them an opportunity to have proper comfortable accommodation with a longer term view for the future.

I asked the Taoiseach a direct question. Will the Government introduce rent certainty? If not, why not?

The Deputy raised that before. Will he ask something new?

He never answered the question and totally avoided it. Contrary to the Taoiseach’s protestations, his policies are making the lives of citizens worse. He is allowing the market to decide on this issue. Since he took office, rents have increased by 35%. Up to 90% of these cases are above rent supplement limits, meaning families cannot afford to live in homes. They are being evicted, and being forced from their homes into emergency accommodation. There are now 1,500 children living in homeless accommodation in Dublin city as a result of the Taoiseach’s policies. There is no other reason for it. The Government’s response has been incoherent, incohesive and chaotic with Ministers briefing against each other instead of dealing with the housing crisis.

A question, please.

The Taoiseach said the next election is a choice between stability and chaos. What stability is there for these families? The Minister promised rent certainty. Fine Gael is resisting this. Up to 24 Fine Gael Oireachtas Members are landlords. Is this a factor?

A question, please.

How many houses does Deputy Adams have?

Will the Government deliver rent certainty? Will it be the Labour Party’s way or Fine Gael’s way?

Will it be Gerry’s way?

How many houses does Deputy Adams have?

He would be spinning a different story in New York.

We got the answer yesterday. It will be Fine Gael’s way.

It will not be Sinn Féin’s way.

So, there will be no rent certainty.

Sinn Féin wants to drive down disposable income, increase taxes-----

No, we do not. The Taoiseach should stick to the question.

-----and drive jobs out of the country. That is the Sinn Féin way. It will not be Sinn Féin’s way, however. The Government is not going to do anything that will make this situation worse.

That is a great relief.

Is the Government going to do anything to make it better?

The fundamental issue to be dealt with is the supply measures for houses. Deputy Martin’s party destroyed our economy.

Destroyed the country.

Fine Gael has been in office for five years. What has it done?

Will the Taoiseach bring in the Army to mind the ATMs?

You brought in Dad’s Army.

AK47 might be needed yet.

The entire construction sector collapsed with the loss of 100,000 jobs. We now have to rebuild that, along with every other sector. As pointed out, in the context of rough sleepers-----

Have increased.

-----and homeless people, there have been changes in the housing assistance payment system and-----

HAP is not working.

-----modular units and social housing are being put in place.

None of that is working.

Not one policy is working.

Void units, as they are called, are being returned to habitable status.

The issue in respect of families who have been put out because of increased pressures in rents is a point of discussion between the two Ministers. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has changed the rules in respect of housing assistance programmes. That allows so many more people to be accommodated by the Department of Social Protection on a case-by-case basis, a development which I am sure Deputy Adams welcomes.

Rents have gone up 4.4% in one year alone.

We now have to deal with the supply side and the changes that can be made that will make an impact now, as well as in the longer term.

Rent certainty is the answer.

Building houses would help.

Fine Gael is the landlords' party.

That is the point of discussion that is taking place between the two Ministers.

When is this discussion going to end?

I hope it can be concluded this week. It will not be Sinn Féin’s way, however.

So, there will not be rent certainty.

It certainly will not be Fine Gael's way after the election.

Sinn Fein’s way would destroy this economy and drive hundreds of thousands of jobs out of the country.